Today NATO held its first ever summit-level meeting of the NATO-Ukraine
Commission. NATO has placed special importance on strengthening its
relationship with Ukraine. A stable and secure Ukraine is in the
interest of the entire Euro-Atlantic community.

At NATO's Madrid Summit in 1997, the Alliance and Ukraine signed the
Charter on Distinctive Partnership, establishing the NATO-Ukraine
Commission. Their mutual goal was to strengthen ties that have led to
cooperation across a range of political, military, civil emergency,
scientific and environmental activities. Ukraine has made significant
progress in building its relationship with NATO through the Joint
Working Group on Defense Reform and the Partnership for Peace (PfP).
Its troops are serving side-by-side with NATO's in Bosnia and have
participated in several NATO-partner training exercises.

The following was accomplished at today's NATO-Ukraine Commission
meeting:

Allied leaders encouraged Ukraine to continue down the path of
economic and political reform.

NATO and Ukraine issued a formal declaration highlighting the
importance of Ukraine's independence and sovereignty, and Ukraine's
willingness to play a growing role in improving regional stability.

NATO announced its recognition of the Yavoriv military facility in
western Ukraine as the first PfP training center in the former Soviet
Union. Yavoriv has already been the site of several NATO-partner
training exercises.

During the summit, Ukraine provided the Deputy Commander for the PfP
Simulation Network demonstration, a further demonstration of Ukraine's
pro-active approach to its relationship with NATO.